Extension case or box



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' W. REETZ.

EXTENSION CASE 0R BOX. No. 287,473. Patented Oct. 30, 1883.

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ATENT VVILLIAh I REETZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION CASE OR BQX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 28?, l73, 'dated October 30, 1883.

Application filed April 4, 1883.

(No model.)

- the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Cases or Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled'in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in extension cases or boxes, more especially intended for traveling salesmen or agents, to con tain samples, &c.; and one object is to produce an extension case or box which can be telescoped, and can be held in any position desired when extended more or less, and then looked, and another is to dispense with the straps and buckles as now employed, and the saving of considerable time and labor in opening and closing the same, as well as obtaining greater security.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of certain parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and definitely pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters indicate like parts in the different figures of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exten sion-case, and locked in position. Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross-section of my improved extension-case. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the lock or catch with the rack-plate and guide. Fig. 3 is a section on line a: w of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line y g of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents detail views of the lock or catch in section and elevation. Fig. 6 is a rack or ratchet plate without a flange in elevation and section. Fig. 7 is an elevation and section of the guide-plate or slide-guide fastened to the inner part of the cover. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are elevations and sections of modified forms of-ratchet-plates. Fig. 11 is a modified form of catch. I

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the lower part of the extension-case, and B the cover or upper part thereof. The lower part, A, is arranged to fit loosely into the upper part, B, so that it can be easily moved up and down therein, and, as desired, to increase or decrease the capacity of the extension-case. It is made of square, rectangular, round, or other suitable shape, as desired. The upper part is provided with the ordinary strap or handle for transporting the case. To the lower part, B, is secured, on each side, a rack or ratchet plate, a, preferably provided with an angleflange, a, over which the recessed guide-plate b,which is secured to the cover, loosely fits. On the outside of the cover is secured, by rivets c or other suitable manner, alock or catch, C,

which consists of a base-plate, 0, having a re cessed enlargement, (Z, through which a crossbar, 6, of the spring pawl or catch f passes. This pawl has a projection, g, which engages with the teeth or bars of the ratchet-plate, and is forced outward by the spring 71. The baseplate 0 is provided at its upper end with a lug, t, which passes through a slot, k, in the pawl, and by means of said lug the catch can be locked by a padlock, or in any other suitable manncr. The ratchet-plate may be provided with square perforations or holes a, or it may be made with saw-teeth a, as shown in Fig. 9 in cross-section and plan.

As a modification, (shown in Fig. 10,) the ratchet-plate is provided with round holes Z, and with this plate the catch represented in Fig. 11 is to be employed. The end of the pawl f is in this instance made round, to correspond with the holes Z in the ratchet-plate. This is made of angle shape to stiffen and strengthen it, and suitable rivet-holes are provided to se cure it in place on the body of the case.

The catch and ratchet plate can be made'of any suitable metal or material, although I we fer brass or composition metal, and the body of the extension-case can be made of any ma terial usually employed in the construction of trunks or valises. desired, and the configuration maybe changed to suit the taste or the purpose for which'it is intended.

The operation is as follows: If it is desired to increase the capacity of the extension-case, the two pawls are released or liberated from contact with the teeth or bars of the ratchetplate, and, according to the size desired, it is adjusted into said teeth or bars, and can then be securely fastened by a padlock or its equivalent.

Having thus described my invention, what I The size can be varied as claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. An extension case or box provided with a ratchet-plate and guide-plate, in combination with a pawl and means for looking the parts 3f said case in position, substantially as specied. Y

2. In an extension case or box, the combination of the upper part, B, and lower part, A, with a ratchet-plate, guide-plate, spring-pawl, and means for looking the parts in the desired position, substantially as shown, and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In an extension case or box, the combina tion of a lower part, A, provided with a ratchet-plate, and an upper part, B, provlded with 

